Road grader



June 29, 1943. F. E. ARNDT 2,322,993

' ROAD GRADER Filed March 12, 1940 I 6 Sheets-Sheet l FRANKLIN E. ARNDT,

ay 'w' F. E. ARNDT ROAD GRADER Filed March 12, 1940 6 Shee ts-Sheet June29, 1943. F. E. ARNDT ROAD GRADER Filed March 12, 1940 6 Shepts-Sheet. 3

June 29, 1943. ARND-T I 2,322,998

ROAD GRADER Filed March 12, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I25 HG 12a I I IIO\ mif/vvE/vTaR FRANKLIN E. ARNo-l;

ATT'Y June 29, 1943. I F. E. ARNDT 2,322,998

ROAD GRADER Filed March 12, 1940' e shgets-sheet s r i m E c Q E w 5 5 Ik Q o vw Q S Q 9 E g o h m Q g m r h 0 9 F N m 3 u & F 0% E I: 0 N Q E{,9

6 0- N N (I) m N I o o 8 //YVEN7'OR.'

F ANKLIN E ARNDT,

Patented June 29, 1943 ROAD GRADER Franklin E. Arndt, Galion, Ohio,assignor to The Galion Iron Works & Manufacturing Company, a corporationof Ohio Application March 12, 1940, Serial No. 323,586

9 Claims.

My invention relates to a road grader, and one of its objects is theprovision of improved and efficient mean for mechanically adjusting themoldboard of the road grader to a steep bank-cutting position at eitherside of the machine and holding the moldboard in such adjusted positionduring operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision ofmechanism forleaning the wheels of a road grader comprising .arcuate gear with limitstops at the ends thereof to prevent the overrunning of an actuatingpinion.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved mechanismfor connecting the front end of the drawbar of a road grader to thefront end of the main frame with such flexibility as to facilitate theadjustment of the drawbar from a position under the main frame to anupright position at either side thereof.

A further object of the invention is the pro shifting of the rear end ofthe vehicle frame rela- .tive to the rear. axle of ,the road grader.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved resiliencyfor the support. of the operator at the rear end of the machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved resilientcounter-balancing mechanism effective not only when the grader blade isunder the machine but also when it is in bank sloping position at eitherside of the machine.

More particularly it is the object of the present invention to providehangers each comprising a tube open at both ends with a rod slidingentirely through the same and held in adjusted position by a pininserted through an aperture in the tube and one of the series ofapertures in the rod.

It is also the object of the invention to provide in a bank slopingmachine, a longitudinal rock shaft connected-by a radial arm at itsfront end through a link to one side of the rear end of the drawbar forco-operation with links each extensible in length for adjusting thegrader blade to an upright position with its cutting edge spaced fromthe path of travel of the machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rock shaftpivotally mounted on the vehicle frame of the road grader in such a lowposition as to permit the outer end of a radial arm connected to therock shaft to be swun to such an elevated position as to elevate thedrawbar from theroadway as to enable co-operation with extensiblehangers to adjust the moldboard or grader blade from a position underthe machine to a steep bank sloping position with ample clearance forthe heel of the blade when so adjusted.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novelfeatures and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figs. 1 and 2, placed end to end, show a side elevation of the roadgrader embodying my improvements;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the steeringunit;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken onth line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line '5-5 of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the circle mounted on the rear end ofthe T-shaped drawbar;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 7, looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a rear elevational view of the road grader with the graderblade in steep bank-cutting position, with the heel of the cutting bladeentirely outside of the path of travel of the machine and With thedelivery edgeof the moldboard inside of the path of travel of theadjacent rear wheel;

Fig. 11 is a rear view of the machine with the moldboard in its entiretyoutside of the path of travel of the machine with the cutting edge insubstantially upright position;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged rear view of the rear wheel leaning mechanism andmechanism for shifting the rear end of the frame laterally relative tothe rear wheels;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged side elevation to illustrate a the mechanism foreffecting leaning of the rear axis of the rock shaft of the laterallyshifting mechanism enables the outer end of the radial crank arm to belifted to such an elevated position as to be above a horizontal planeextending through the actuating rock shaft; and.

Fig, 15 is a sectional elevation of a portion of Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows As shown in Fig. 2, the main supporting frame I5is upwardly arched and is supported at its rear end on its wheels I6 andat its front end on the wheels I? (Figs. 1, 4 and 5). The frame I5 isshown in Fig. 11 as comprising spaced-apart longitudinal side beams I8,18, and as shown in Fig. 2 these spaced-apart side beams are connectedby the tubular cross braces I9, 29 and 2|. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2,the front and rear wheels are preferably of metal so that the rimsthereof will be sufliciently thin to be able to dig into the roadsurface when the wheels are leaned in such direction as to resistlateral skidding when the moldboard is in steep bank-cutting position,

such as that shown in Fig. or Fig. 11, and under operation by movementof the whole machine along the roadway, as will be more fully explainedhereinafter.

The machine shown in theaccornpanying drawings includes mechanism forthe steering of the front wheels, the leaning of the front wheels, the

leaning of therear wheels, the shifting of the rear end of the mainframe laterally relatively to the rear wheels, the shifting of themoldboard'laterally and movement thereof to bank sloping position, andthe adjustment and locking of the circle shown in Fig. 7. All of thecontrols extend to a single operators station or platform 22 at the rearend of the machine, as shown in Figs. 2, 10 and 11. Although I haveshown in the accompanying drawings a pull type of road working machinecomprising a tongue 23 to the front end of which is adapted to beconnected a pulling tractor, it should be understood that myimprovements hereinafter described are also useful in a 'power gradercomprising a power plant connected to the rear traction wheelsfor movingthe entire machine along the roadway.

The front wheel steering mechanism comprises a driving sprocket 24meshing with a chain 25, the ends of which are connected by means oflinks 26 and 21 to the bolster 28 mounted on the front axle 29. As shownin Fig. 4, the rear ends of the links 26, 21 have eyes 39, 3! whichinterloop the U-bolts 32. As shown in Figs. 4' and 5, the U- bolts 32,33 extend through openings in the plates 34, 35 and 96, 31 on oppositesides of the channels 38, 39 of the bolster 28. The lower ends of thechannels 33, 39 are bolted to the angle irons '49, 4!, and theplates 3t,95 and 36, 31 are at the same time bolted to the angle irons 4!], 4!.

The bolster has surmounted thereon a cap 42 which "has a central openingin its top. It will'thus be seen that the bolster 28 and the front axletree form a single rigid structure for supporting on the wheels H, framel5.

The tubular tongue 23 has rigidly secured. to the rear end thereof avertical plate 43. A tube 44 is H the front end of the vehicle securedas by welding to the rear end of the plate 43, and plates 45, 46 arewelded to the lower and upper edges of the plate 43 and the lower and 7upper ends of the tube 44.

The

bracket bearing 48 is secured rigidly to the cap 42 of the bolster 28. Ahearing rod 49 may be dropped through the bracket bearing 48, theopening in the plate 46, the tube 44, and the opening in the plate withthe lower end of the rod 49 in the cup bearing 41. The rod 49 may thenbe pinned to the bracket bearing 48.

Fig. 3 shows diagrammaticallythe advantage of the pivot rod 49 beingplaced'in advance of the center of the steering post 50. The pullingtractor illustrated in dotted lines at 5! exerts a straight-line pullthrough the tongue 23 on the pivot 49 but at the same time there is acom- 52 extending forwardly from the center 50 of the steering post. Thepull on the pivot point 49 aids in steering the steering unit in ananti-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3.

When the steering wheel 53 at the rear of the machine (Figs. 2, 10 and11) is rotated, the shaft 54 will transmit rotary motion through theuniversal joints 55, 56, 51 and the links 58, 59 to the worm gearing inthe casing 60 and thus, rotate the sprocket 24 meshing with the chain'25and thereby swing the tongue 23 in one direction or the other relativelyto the front wheels. A counterbalancing spring BI is connected to thetongue 23 intermediate its ends and also to a swiveled connection 62 atthe top of the pos 50, as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to effect adjustment of the leaning of the front wheels [1, thecrank 63 (Figs. 10, 11-) is so manipulated as to secure rotation of thelinks 64, 55, 66, 61, 68, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The rotation ofthese links will rotate the worm 69 and the worm wheel 10 with which itmeshes. Keyed to the worm' wheel 10 is a pinion H which meshes with thearcuate rack 12, as shown in Fig. 5. The worm 69 and worm wheel 15 aremounted in the casing 73 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The shaft I4 to which the worm wheel and the pinion H are keyed, extendsrearwardly so that the pinion II meshes with the underside of thearcuate rack 12. As shown in Fig. 5, the arcuate rack 12 is secured toand suspended from the cross link 15, the ends of which are pivoted at16, 16 to the upper ends of the arms 11, 11, the latter being pivoted onlongitudinal axes at I8, 78 to the ends of'the axle-tree 29. The lowerends of the arms 11, TI carry the axles on which the wheels I1, I! arejournaled.

It can readily be seen by referring to Fig. 5 that when the worm 69 isturned, the wheels l1, I1 will be leaned in either direction whileremaining in parallelism. It should be particularly noted that thebracket 19 which carries the rack 12 on its lower side, has its endportions curved at 80, 80 with the inner under surfaces approximatelyconforming to the circumference of the pinion H. The arcuate extensions80, 8!] prevent the pinion H from overunning the arcuate rack 12 to suchan extent as to move from under the'bracket 19. In other words, thearcuate extensions act as limit stops as to th leaning of the wheels ll,I1 because when the pinion 1| moves against the under sides of thearcuate extensions 80, 80, the latter will act as limit stops positivelypreventing the pinion H from being rotated any farther, if any of itsteeth are still inmesh with any of the teeth of the arcuate rack. If thepinion 1| runs entirely out of mesh with the arcuat rack 72, sucharcuate extensions '80,

'80 will still act as limit stops because they will bar.

slide along the bottom arcuate surfaces of the extensions 80 withoutmaking any progress, but nevertheless when the pinion 1| is reversed itsteeth will immediately re-mesh with the arouate rack 12 so that theleaning of the wheels I1, I1 may b reversed. When the moldboard isoperated in steep bank-cutting position, the leaning of the front wheelswill be held in adjusted position by reason of the self-locking natureof the worm gearing 69, 10. It will thus be seen that irrespective ofthe relative positions of the pinion H and arcuate rack 12 the frontwheels will be able to resist the lateral thrust exerted on the machineduring operation of the moldboard along a steep bank at one side of thepath of travel of th machine.

The drawbar 8| as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. comprises a narrow elongatedfront end 82 connected by an intermediate curved portion to a rearhorizontal T-shaped frame which carries the circle 63. As shown in Fig.7, the drawbar may comprise two angle iron 84, 84 welded together withtheir horizontal flanges at the bottom so that a plate 85 may be weldedalong th upper 'of the steering post 50 a short distance above the plate86 are the legs of a U-bolt 88, the free ends of which are threaded toreceive the nuts 89, 89. The U-bolt 88 interloops the eye-bolt 90 theforward end of which is adapted to fit into an armate recess 9|, asshown inFig. 6. The rear end of the eye-bolt 90 is provided with a shank92 I which is swiveled in the socket 93 which is secured to the bottomof the front end of the draw- The rear end of the shank 92 is threadedat 94 to receive a, nut 95 which may be locked in adjusted position withthe flange 96 on the shank 92 resting against the forward end of thesocket 93. It will thus be seen by referring to Figs. 1 and 6 that thedrawbar 8| may turn on its swiveled comiection at 92, 93 relatively tothe steering post 50 and moreover the drawbar 8| may swing laterallyupon an upright axis at 9| along the U-bolt 88. Furthermore, the drawbar8| may swing up and down while the eye-bolt 90 is pivoted on the U-bolt88 and in the arcuate recess 9|.

It should be particularly noted that the steering post 50 is rigidlyconnected to the forward ends of the channel beams I8, I9 and thereforeto the forward end of the main frame. The universal connection at theforward end of the drawbar' 8| is therefore in reality connected to thefront end of the main frame and the parts are so closely related that norelative vibration between them is possible irrespective of the varioushigh lift grading positions to which the grader blade has been adjusted.

nevertheless the drawbar 8| may always be maintained in rigid connectionto the main frame during grading operations and bank sloping operations.

The circle 83, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, carries the moldboard 91 bymeans of the arms 98, 98. Mounted on the cross-piece 99 at the rear endof the drawbar are circumferentially spaced retaining plates I00, IOI asshown in the bottom plan view of Fig. '1. Abutments I02, I03 are weldedto the bottom of the cross-piece 99. Slotted wedge plates I04, I05 arelocated between the abutment plates I02, I03 and the slidable abutmentplates I06 are each located on top of the plates I00 and IOI. Fig. 9 isa sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

The plates I00 and I0| are in fixed relation to the cross-piece 99 whenthe bolts I01, I01 are tightened in place. The plates I00, I0| areadapted to overlap the flange I08 of the circle but the latter is freeto slide along these plates I00 and IOI when the circle rotatingmechanism is operated. The plates I06 have enlarged openings for thebolts I01, so that they may engage the inner edges of the flange I08 ofthe circle. This is effected by means of the wedges I04, I05 whichengage the inner edges of the plates I06 when the bolts I01 areloosened. That is to say, when the bolts I09, I09 areloosened as well asthe bolts I01, I01, the wedges I04, I05 may be moved tangentially of thecenter of the circle along the abutments I02, I03, thereby forcing theouter edges of the plates I06 against the inner edges of the flange I08.After this has been done the bolts may be re-tightened.

Therotatable circle carries a segmental arcuate rack. IIO with whichmeshes the pinion III as shown in Fig. 7. The pinion II I is connectedto the lower end of a shaft, the upper end of which is connected bymeans of worm gearing through the link mechanism I I2, gearing I I3 anda flexible shaft I I 4 to the gear mechanism in the casing I I5 of Fig.11 for actuation by means of the lever 63 I when the latter is set in apredetermined position. Thismechanism operated by the lever 63 may besuch as that illustrated in the patent to Arndt, No. 2,012,463, grantedAug. 27, 1935, for an improve ment in Road planer or drag.

Mechanism for locking the circle in adjusted,

position comprises a pawl II6 which is pivotally mounted on the drawbarframe members 84, 84 for up and down pivotal movement on the axis I I1shown in Fig. 8. An arm |I8 extends from the pawl II6 into position forconnection by means of a restoring spring I I9 to the bracket I20. I Thecasting I2 I is provided with a journal bearing I22 for the transverseshaft I I1. An arcuate extension I23 overlaps the flange I08 as shown inFig. 8. An abutment plate I06 engages the cylindrical abutment surfaceI24 at the inner edge of the circle 83 adjacent the flange I08. It willthus be seen that the abutment plates I06, I06, I06 engage the inneredge or cylindrical abutment surface I24 of the flange I08 so as-toproperly hold the circle for circular adjustment in fixed relation tothe T-shaped drawbar. The

' bracket casting |2I as well as the abutment plate I23 overlapping theflange I08.

cross-piece 33 of the T-shaped drawbar.

enedso as to hold the plates I06, I06, I06 in close fitting relation tothe cylindrical abutment surface I24 with the retaining plates I00, IOIand Inasmuch as Fig. '7 is a bottom plan view, it can readily be seenthat the circle when in adjusted position is supported from the T-shapeddrawbar by means of the retaining plates I00, IOI and I23 which areextended under the flange I08.

Thejspring I I9 acts on the arm I I8 to move the toothed pawl I I6 intomesh with the arcuate rack I I0, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. By pullingthe handle I26 at the operators station (Fig. 2), the links I21, I28 maybe actuated so as to move the bell crank I23 on its pivot I30 andthereby exert a forward pull on the link ;I3I which is connected to theupper end of the lever IIB. In this manner the pawl -I I6 is pulled downand released from the arcuate rack IIO. I

While the operator holds the pawl I I6 released by pulling on the handleI26 he may adjust the lever 63 (Fig. 10) into such position as to enablehim to operate the links I32, I33v so as to secure transmission throughthegearing II3 by actuation of the worm gearing inthe casing I34 andthus effect rotation of the pinion III to in turn rotate the circle 83...In'this manner the operator at his station may swing the moldboard 91to a desired angle relative to the path of travel of the machine, whilethe moldboard remains under the machine as shown in Fig. 2, in roadgrading position. I 1

The moldboard maybe adjusted in elevation and in inclinationtransversely of the roadway by means of structure comprising theextensible hangers I35, one locatedon one side of the machine and theother located on the opposite side of the machine. Each hanger comprisesa rod ;through,the registering apertures to hold the hanger I35 atadjusted length.

To the upper end of the tubular member I39 of the hanger I35 is secureda socket I42 for receiving a ball which is mounted on the stem I43, thisstem being in turn mounted on a radial arm I44 which extendsoutwardly'and laterally from i the rock shaft I745. This rock shaft isjournaled in the bearing I46 which is secured to the bracket I41extending laterallyfromthe main frame a substantial distance. The rearend of the rock shaft I45 is journaled in the bearing I48 mounted on theupright I49 of a U-shaped frame secured to the spaced-apart channelbeams I 8, I8 by means of the cross piece I50. It should be understoodthatflahanger similar to that designated I35 in Fig. 2 is also locatedon the opposite side of the machine and connected to a radial arm at theforward .end of a rock shaft similar to that designated I45 (seeFig.14). I 1

The rear end of the rockshaft I45 is connected ,to worm gearing in thecasing I5I' and a large -wheel .152 as shown in Fig. 11 is-connected tosuch worm gearing to enable the operator at the operators stationto rockthe shaft I45: and thus lift or .10wer,thehanser l35. .The hanger on.

v of the main framethat sideof the machine opposite to that shown inFig. 2| is provided with a perforated rod capable of extending entirelythrough a tubular member, and suchhanger on the opposite side of themachine.is providedwith a pin for holding the hanger at adjusted length.The hanger on the opposite side of the machine may be operated by thewheel I53 connected to worm gearing in the casing I5I', which ismounted. on the upright I43 of the U-shaped framemounted on the channelsI0,- IB. By referring to Fig. 11, it can readilybe seen that the rockshafts I on opposite sides of the machine are each spaced substantialdistances from the sides of the main frame because of the brackets I41which extend laterally from the main frame, as illustrated in Fig. 14.

Extending longitudinally of the rear portion of the main frame is a rockshaft I54 which at its outer end has a radial crankarm I55 which isprovided at its outer end with a ball and socket joint connection I 56with one end of the link- I51, the other end of which is;conn ected bythe ball and socket joint I58 tothe ballcarrier I38 mounted at one sideof the rear end portion of the drawbar. The front end of the rock shaftI54 is journaled inth'e bearing 159 which is supported on thecross-piece I60 secured to and extendingbetween the channels. I8, I8 ofthe main frame.

The rear end of the rock shaft I54 is journaled in the bearing I6Imounted on the sub-frame I62 which is secured to and extendstransversely between thechannels I8, I8 of the main frame. 1, The rearend of the rock shaft I54 is connected to interlocking worm gearing inthe casing I63. A wheel I64 is connected to a worm in the gear .casingI65 (Fig. 10). When the wheel I64 is rotatedby the operator at hisstation the rock shaft I54-may berotated in one direction or the otherto swing the arm I55 upwardly toward one beam vor the other'of thespaced-apart beams of the main frame. As shown in Fig. 14, the crank armI55 may be; rotated so that the ball and socket joint I56 maybeprojected beyond either side In fact, the radial arm I55 maybe rotatedthrough an angle of more than one hundred and eighty degrees so that theball and socket joint I56 may be elevated to such a position that itlies in or abovea horizontal plane extending through thehorizontal loweredges of :the channels I8, I8. a

- By adjusting the. hanger I35 so that it will be ofmaximumlength onthat side of the machine from which the arm I55 is moved and byadjusting the hanger I35 on the other side of the machine to a minimumlength the rotation of the rockshafts I45 may co -operate with therotation of the rock shaft I 54 to move the moldboard into the steepbank-cutting position shown in Fig. 11. That is to say, by providinghangers of the construction shown at I 35 in Fig. 2 and locating them.substantially beyond the sides of themachine, they may. be capable ofcooperating with the crank arm I55 having the wide angle of the movementabove described, to move the moldboardentirely out beyond the pathoftravel of the machine as shown in Fig. 11. Since the hangers areprovided with tubular elements I39, with rods I36 capable of being movedentirely through the tubular members and having the arm I55 swingablethrough such a large angle in either direction, themoldboard maybeadjusted to its upright position shown in Fig. ,11, at either side ofthe machine. $0 also-the moldboard may be adjusted to the positionishownin Fig. 10 on the lefthand side of the machine as well as on therighthand side thereof. In fact the hangers I35, I35 may be adjusted tosuch lengths that the moldboard may be adjusted from the road gradingposition shown in Fig. 2 to the steep bank-sloping position shown inFig. 10 without changing the length of either hanger. However, beforethe moldboard is moved to its upright position shown in Fig. 11, theupper hanger is shortened to its minimum length and the lower hanger islengthened to its maximum length.

Spaced-apart rearward extensions I66, I61 are provided with guides forthe rear axle-tree I68 comprising the spaced-apart angle irons I69, I10.Between these angle irons and secured thereto is located a casing I1Ifor worm gearing which is connected to the link I12 which extendsupwardly and transversely, as shown in Fig. 10, to the upright rotaryrod I13 journaled in the bearings of the brackets I14, I15 which aremounted on the rear side of the gear casing I'I. A crank I16 isconnected to the upper end of the rotary rod I13 (Fig. and when thiscrank is turned the worm gearing in the casing I1I may be operated torotate the pinion I11 which extends rearwardly of the cross-piece I10 ofthe rear axletree I68.

The pinion I11 meshes with an arcuate rack I18 which is mounted on thecross-piece I19. At the ends of the arcuate rack I18 are located arcuatelimit stops I80 and I8I to prevent the pinion 111 from overrunning theends of the rack I18. The construction and operation are similar tothose described in connection with the structure mounted on the frontwheel steering unit for leaning the front wheels, as shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 12, rotation of the pinion I11 will move therack I18 bodily with the cross-piece I19 because the frame of the rack I18 is bolted at I82, I83 to the cross-piece I19.

The ends of the cross-piece I19 are pivotally connected at I84, I85 tothe upper ends of the arms I86, I81 which are pivoted at I88, I89 onlongitudinal axes to the outer ends of the arcuate extensions I90, I9Iat the outer ends of the rear axle-tree I68. The arms I86, I81 carry theaxles on which the wheels I6, I6 are journaled. It will thus be seenthat the movement transversely of the machine of the cross-piece I19will adjust the leaning of the rear wheels but the arcuate limit stopsI80, I8I will limit the leaning ofthe wheels and prevent the pinion I11from overruning the rack I18. The worm gearing in the casing I1I isself-locking and consequently when the operator releases the crank I16,the leaning of the rear wheels will be locked in adjusted positions.

As shown in Figs. 2, 12 and 13, a rack bar I92 is mounted on thecross-piece I69. Secured to the main frame is a worm gear casing I93.Connected to the worm gear in the worm gear casing I93 is a spur gearI94 in mesh with the rack bar I92. Connected to the worm gearing in theeasing I93 is a link I95 which extends upwardly for connection to thelower end of the rod I96 which is journaled in the brackets I91, I98mounted on the rear side of the worm gear casing I5I. By means of thecrank I99 connected to theupper end of the rod I96, the operator at theoperators station may drive the spur gear I94 to cause the main frame totravel along the rack I92 and thus adjust the rear end of the main framealong the rear axle-tree and relative to the rear wheels I6, I6.

As shown. in Fig. 2, the operator's platform 22 is pivoted at 200' tothe cross-piece I50. The rear end portion of the operators platform 22is mounted .on spaced-apart springs 20I and these springs in turn aremounted on the inverted U-shaped frame 202 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.It should be particularly noted, however, by referring to Fig. 2 thatthe frame 202 is mounted on an angle iron 203 which is secured to the.

spaced-apart rearward extensions I66, I61. Therefore when the rear endof the main frame is shifted relatively to the rear wheels, the frame202 remains in fixed relation to the main frame. In other words, whenthe main frame is shifted laterally relatively to the rear axle-tree,the operators platform being in fixed relation to the main frame alsomoves laterally along the rear axle-tree.

It should be particularly noted that the arcuate extensions I and I9I atthe ends of the rear axle-tree I68 are for the purpose of lowering theaxles on which the rear wheels I6, I6 are journaled. The spacing betweenthe rear axle-tree and the cross-piece I19 is preserved by incliningdownwardly the outer ends of the crosspiece I19 as shown in Figs. 10 and11. The use of the arcuate extensions I90, I9I to lower the axles onwhich the wheels I6, I6 are journaled, enables the front wheels and rearwheels to be; interchangeable. That is to say, by having the centers ofthe rear wheels at the same distances above the supporting surface asthe centers of the front wheels, the front and rear wheels areinterchangeable and the frame spacing above the supporting surface willbe approximately the same at the front end of the machine as at the rearend. At the front end of the machine the front axletree 29 is located ata certain distance from the ground surface, this being approximatelyfrom the center of the front wheels I1, I1 to such ground surface, asshown in Fig. 5. At the rear end of the machine in order to preservethis spacing from the ground surface, the rearward extensions I66, I61from the main frame are at an elevation approximately equal to that ofthe center of rotation of the rear wheels.

It would be undesirable to omit the arcuate extensions I90, I9I and havethe rear axle-tree I68 extend straight across between the centers of therear wheels because not only would the rearward extensions I66, I61become too low for the clearing of obstacles on the ground surface, butthe rear end of the main frame would become unduly lowered for high liftadjustments of the moldboard. In other words, by providing the arcuateextensions I90, I9I, ample clearance of the extensions I66, I61 from theground surface is preserved, and moreover the rear end of the main frameis kept at sufficient elevation so that the rock shafts I45 and I54 willbe at sufiicient elevations to provide ample clearance for the heel ofthe moldboard when the latter is moved to steep bank sloping positions.7

It should be noted that a ball holder similar to that designated I39 inFig. 2 is also located at the opposite end of the cross piece 99. Thelink I51 may be connected to the ball holder I38 on one side of the rearend of the drawbar 8I or on the other side of the rear end thereof. Whenthe moldboard is in steep bank-cutting position at either side of themachine it is preferable to have the link I51 act as a suspension rod.

As shown in Fig. 5, the post 50 is provided with a depending bearing 204in which is journalied the vertical shaft 61. In a circular groove atthe lower end of the journal bearing 204 is a washer 205 on which issupported the cup-shaped washer 206.

If desired the washer 205 may be in two semicircular sections easilyplaced in the circular groove when the cup 206 is slid up along thejournal bearing 204. When the cup 206 is permitted to drop down over thesemi-circular sections of the washer 205, the latter is locked to thelower end of the bearin 204. Further locking may be effected by passinga wire through holes in the depending skirt of the cup 206 and extendingsuch wire transversely under the lower end of the bearing 204 andtwisting together the free ends of the wire. By mean of this arrangementthe steering wheel unit maybe removed. from the main frame when desired.

This structure permits the front end of the main frame to be maintainedin adjusted position during operation of the moldboard while thesteering wheel unit is free to move up and down and tilt in oppositedirections to the extent allowed by the cup 206 bumping against thebottom of the ring 81. In other words, the steering wheel unit has greatflexibility relative to the main frame as it travels over rough groundwhich has not as yet been acted on by the moldboard.

Upright counterbalancing springs 20'? are mounted at the sides of thevehicle frame and the lower ends of these springs are connected at 208to anchorages which project laterally from the bottom of the vehicleframe as shown at 209 in Figs. 2 and 15. Segmenta1 sheaves 210 aresecured to the shafts I45 to rotate therewith. Flexible connectionsin-the form of chains 2 extend between the segmental sheaves H and theupper ends of the springs 201, respectively located between its adjacentrock shaft I45 and the vehicle frame in position to enable the springs20! to counterbalance a part of the weight of the drawbar and moldboard.It should benoted that the sheaves 2 I0 constitute grooved cams on therock shafts I45. The chains 21I I are connected to these cams and reavedalong the grooves thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 15. The springs 20'!connect the rear portion of the vehicle frame to the chains 2 at theinner sides of the rock shafts I45 in opposition to the radial arms I 44to counterbalance the weight exerted by the drawbar and grader blade onthe hangers It can readily be seen by comparing Fig. 2 with Fig. thatthe arm I44 must be moved through a wide angle in order to permitmovement of the moldboard from road grading position to steep bankcutting position. By locating the springs at the sides of the machine inupright positions they may be made of sufiicient length to enable themto be effective as counterbalancing springs both when the moldboard isin the road grader position shown in Fig. 2 and when the moldboard is inthe steep bank cutting position shown in Fig. 10. When the arm I44 ismoved through such wide angle the segmental sheave or grooved cam 2I0 ismoved through a like angle and the spring 201 is stretched out until itsupper end is at the elevation of the rear end portion of the rock shaftI45. In addition to locating the counterbalancing springs at the sidesof the vehicle frame ,so that they may be made of sufiicient length tobe most effiicient in a steep bank cutting machine, the springs are inlocations where they will not interfere with any of the operatingextensions between the operator's station and the adjusting mechanismson the drawbar.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and Itherefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction hereindisclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what Idesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a road grader, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a drawbarflexibly connected at its forward end to said frame, a moldboard carriedby said drawbar, longitudinal rock shafts, mechanism for supporting saidrock shafts on the rear portion of said frame, crank arms on the forwardends of said rock shafts, hangers connecting said crank arms to oppositesides of the rear portion of said drawbar, mechanism for for rockingsaid shafts individually to eiTect adjustment of the moldboard relativeto said frame,

upright counterbalancing springs at the sides of said frame, mechanismprojecting laterally from th bottom of said frame for anchoring thelower ends of said springs, segmental sheaves secured to said rockshafts to rotate therewith, and flexible connections between saidsegmental sheaves and the upper ends of said springs respectivelylocated between its adjacent rock shaft and the frame in position toenable the springs to counterbalance a part of the weight of the drawbarand moldboard.

2. In a road grader, the combination witlra vehicle frame, of a drawbarflexibly connectedat its forward end to said vehicle frame, a graderblade carried by said drawbar, spaced-apart rock shafts mounted at thesides of said vehicle frame, radial arms at the forward ends of saidrock shafts, hangers connecting said arms to the sides of said drawbar,grooved cams on said rock shafts, chains connected to said cams andreaved along the grooves thereof, a transverse crosspiece connected tothe underside of said frame, upright springs connecting the saidcross-piece under said frame to said chains at the innerf sides of therock shafts in opposition to the radial arms to counterbalance theweight exerted by the drawbar and grader blade on said hangers, andmeans comprising worm gearing connected to said rock shafts foroperating the same individually.

3. In a road building machine, the combination with a vehicle comprisinga supporting frame, of a drawbar connected at its front end to saidframe, a moldboard carried by said drawbar, spaced-apart extensiblehangers each comprising a rod connected to said drawbar and slidablethrough a relatively short tube, a rock shaft mounted in the rearportion of said supporting frame, a depending crank arm at the forwardend of said rock shaft, a link connecting said crank arm to either oneside or the other of the rear end portion of said drawbar, means forholding the hangers at adjusted lengths one relatively long and theother relatively short, mechanism on said supporting frame connected tosaid hangers to individually actuate the same, and means for rockingsaid shaft at least to laterally shift the drawbar for co-operation withthe actuation of the hangers to effect adjustment of the moldboard insteep bank sloping position at either side of the machine.

4. In a road grader, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a drawbarflexibly connected at its forward end to said frame, a moldboard carriedby said drawbar, longitudinal rock shafts, mechanism for supporting saidrock shafts on said frame, crank arms on the forward ends of said rockshafts, hangers connecting said crank arms to opposite sides of the rearportion of said drawbar, mechanism for rocking said shafts individuallyto effect adjustment of the moldboard relative to said frame, uprightelongated counterbalancing springs adjacent the sides of said frame,mechanism for anchoring the lower ends of said springs to the rear endportions of said frame, and mechanism for connecting the upper ends ofsaid springs to said rock shafts to effect decreased leverage as thetensions in said springs increase when the drawbar and moldboard areadjusted to predetermined positions.

, 5. In a bank sloping machine, the combination with a wheeledsupporting frame, of a drawbar frame, a road-Working implement carriedby said drawbar frame, spaced-apart rock shafts mounted on said frame,crank arms at the forward ends of said rock shafts, extensible hangersconnecting said crank arms to said drawbar frame, each hanger comprisinga tube associated with a rod capable of extending entirely through thesame, a third rock shaft mounted on said frame to extend longitudinallythereof, a crank arm at the forward end of said third rock shaft, a linkconnecting said last-named crank arm to one side of the rear end of saiddrawbar, and means for actuating said first-named rock shaftsindividually with the hangers adjusted to different lengths so as tocooperate with the rocking of said third shaft to adjust the m'oldboardto steep bank sloping position at one side of the machine.

6. In a bank sloping machine, the combination with a vehicle frame, ofspaced apart rock shafts extending along the sides of said frame, crankarms on the forward ends of said rock shafts, a drawbar flexiblyconnected at its forward end to said vehicle frame, a grader bladecarried by said drawbar, extensible hangers connecting said crank armsto the sides of the rear end portion of said drawbar, each of saidhangers comprising a rod slidable through a tube, a third rock shaftextending longitudinally along the mid-portion of said vehicle frame, alaterally swinging crank arm at the forward end of said third rockshaft, a link connecting said last-named crank arm to one side of therear end of said drawbar, and means individual to each rock shaft forrotating each of said crank arms through 180 to effect adjustment ofsaid grader blade to a steep bank cutting position at one side of themachine.

'7. In a bank sloping machine, the combination with a vehicle frame, ofa drawbar connected at its front end to said vehicle frame, a graderblade carried by said drawbar, spaced-apart extensible hangers eachcomprising a rod connected to said drawbar and slidable through arelatively short tube, a rock shaft mounted in the rear portion of saidframe midway between the sides thereof, a depending crank arm at theforward end of said rock shaft, a link connecting said crank arm to oneside of the rear end portion of said drawbar, means for holding thehangers at adjusted lengths one relatively long and the other relativelyshort, spaced-apart rock shafts at the sides of said vehicle frame andextending longitudinally thereof, crank arms connecting the forward endsof said spaced-apart rock shafts to the tubes of said hangers, and meanscapable of rocking each of the three aforesaid shafts at least to effectlaterally shifting of the drawbar for cooperation with the actuation ofthe hangers to effect adjustment of the grader blade to steep bankcutting position at one side of the machine.

8. In a road grader, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a drawbarflexibly connected at its forward end to said vehicle frame, a graderblade carried by said drawbar, spaced-apart rock shafts mounted at thesides of said vehicle frame, radial arms at the forward ends of saidrock shafts, hangers connecting said arms to the sides of the rear endportion of said drawbar, cams secured to said shafts to rock therewith,upright elongated springs, mechanism connecting the lower ends of saidsprings to said frame, mechanism connecting said cams to the upper endsof said springs to increase the tension in one of said springs when saidshafts are rocked to adjust the grader blade to bank-sloping position,and means for rocking said shafts to adjust the elevation of said graderblade against the tensions in said springs.

9. In a road grader, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a U-shapedsupport secured thereto and comprising upright standards at the sides ofsaid vehicl frame, longitudinal connecting bars between the said uprightstandards and downwardly sloping beams of the rear portion of saidvehicle frame, brackets extending laterally from said vehicle frame,spaced rock shafts journaled to said upright standards and journaled tosaid brackets to support said rock shafts to extend longitudinally ofsaid vehicle frame, inwardly facing cams on said rock shafts, uprightelongated springs, means for connecting the upper ends of said springsto said cams, means for connecting the lower ends of said springs to thelower rear end portion of said vehicle frame, said springs being locatedadjacent the inner sides of said longitudinal connecting bars, a drawbarflexibly connected at its forward end to said vehicle frame, mechanismcomprising hangers connecting said rock shafts to said drawbar, a,road-working implement carried by said drawbar, and means supported bysaid standards for rocking said shafts to effect adjustment of theroad-working implement.

FRANKLIN E. ARNDT.

